Purdue President Mitch Daniels discussed the new Boiler Affordability Grant at a press conference in Indianapolis on Tuesday. Nov. 21. (Eric Weddle/WFYI News)
Low and middle income families can struggle to cover college tuition even after state and federal aid.
A new Purdue University grant aims to cover that gap for in-state students earning a first bachelor’s degree.
The Boiler Affordability Grant will cover tuition, fees and book expenses for undergraduates at the West Lafayette campus. Room and board would not be covered.
The Indiana Statehouse. (Peter Balonon-Rosen/IPB News)
Science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, has received a lot of attention at the statehouse lately, and that means the 2018 legislative session could bring major shifts for STEM education throughout the state.
House Education Committee chair Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) says he plans to push for more math and science professionals teaching at the elementary school level.
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce emphasized education in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, in its plans for the 2018 legislative session. Chamber Vice President of Education, Workforce Development & Federal Relations, Caryl Auslander, says a major focus is on making computer science a prerequisite for high school graduation.
Graduation rates at some Indiana high schools could plummet due to a new federal definition of regular diplomas. It would prohibit schools from including students who earn the general diploma in calculated graduation rates. Instead, federal guidelines would only count students who earn the Core 40 diploma or above.
General diplomas require fewer math, social studies and science credits – and less testing.
Indianapolis Public Schools Board approved a $28,000 performance-based bonus for Superintendent Lewis Ferebee at Thursday’s board meeting.
The additional pay is based on an annual review of Ferebee’s performance by the IPS Board. The school commissioners unanimously approved giving Ferebee 80 percent of a possible $35,000 of performance-based pay for meeting 11 predetermined goals in 2016-2017 school year.
Indianapolis Public Schools Board is proposing a $28,000 bonus for Superintendent Lewis Ferebee. The board will vote on the payout at Thursday’s school board meeting. The bonus is based on an annual review of Ferebee’s performance by the IPS Board.
There aren’t enough kids to fill South Bend Community Schools to their full capacity, so officials unveiled a proposal this week to close or repurpose six elementary and middle schools. If the proposal – called Focus 2018 – receives approval, it would also help the corporation meet federal racial requirements mandated for the district.
Superintendent Ken Spells says consolidating building costs will allow the district to improve, by providing funding for more student programs instead of keeping open multiple buildings they don’t really need.
But that doesn’t mean Northside will close immediately – or even next school year – as an active Muncie Community Schools middle school. According to the agreement, MCS is allowed to lease the property back from Ball State for one dollar per year for the next five years.
The plan matches one passed by the MCS school board in April. While voting to close school buildings to combat the district’s multi-million dollar deficit, board member Robert Warrner proposed to keep Northside open in its current location, until a new building could be built on the site of the now-closed Storer Elementary School.
Ball State University officials say the school will buy Northside Middle School from Muncie Community Schools. IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports. Ball State University spokeswoman Kathy Wolfe says the university will pay $1.27 million for the building, which first opened as a high school in
A “graphic recording” of the Graduation Pathways Committee’s discussion on Sept. 19, 2017, as illustrated by Mike Fleisch. (Courtesy State Board of Education)
A state committee recommended sweeping changes to high school graduation requirements Tuesday even as many of the details remain unknown.
If approved by the State Board of Education students, starting with the class of 2023, would choose from multiple academic tracts to satisfy three graduation requirements that are designed to better prepare them for college or career.
Reducing college remediation and filling a skills-gap saddling Indiana industries is a major focus of commerce, government and education leaders.
Gov. Eric Holcomb released his 2018 agenda Wednesday, outlining a number of possible changes to education policy for the sake of better workforce alignment. One facet includes increased licensing flexibility for educators who teach in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering, and math – and Indiana State Teacher’s Association President Teresa Meredith says that proposal lacks specificity.
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